Ferryside hit the headlines (well not quite). Natural Resources ( http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk/?lang=en ) the new Welsh environment agency identified some cases of ash dieback disease in planted and wild trees on an undisclosed site near Ferryside. Martin posted a link to the BBC report http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-22543621 worried that the video clip featured a newly planted site next door to Coed Panteg. I had heard that the outbreak was close to Iscoed mansion. Research turned up the following  (http://www.forestcarbon.co.uk/available-projects/ )  which may turn out to be the source of the outbreak.Interesting to read on their Facebook page about the “investment potential” in woodlands, hopefully at not too great a cost!

Conversations with Coed Cymru and emails to Natural Resources have failed to confirm any of the above details.

The ash trees are just coming into leaf  in Ferryside:

Ash tree by Ystrad bridge

Ash sapling on the hillside

No sign of any problems here but we will remain vigilant.

Elsewhere everything is coming on fast. The potatoes are pushing through, onions and garlic springing up and even the Comfrey seems to have evaded the slugs.

Work with the orchard trees is a pleasure.Some of the trees are in blossom, they come into blossom at different times which is why different trees need partner trees that blossom at similar times in order to guarantee fertilisation and fruiting. See this guide from the RHS to  better explain ApplePollinationGroups

May Blossom

May Blossom

and even the tree that got munched by the cattle is staging a fight back

Munched tree – fights back

In the woods bluebell, white nettle and orchid are flowering. Heavenly

Woodland in May

Andy and I unblocked the  stream  by the bridge and for a while water is flowing sweetly.